Log Date: 3/20/97 Log Cast: Amylynn, Paul, Shenner, Jessalyn Log Intro: With Luke departed to try to rescue Jessalyn from the Dark Lord Sabbath, the rest of the folk aboard the _Black Dragon_ have gotten the ship into orbit, in the hopes of catching up quickly with Luke if he needs backup for his rescue attempt. In the meantime, Shenner and Paul, after staying on watch for many hours at the ship's airlock, have retreated to the cargo bay; Shenner is in the midst of an exhausted sleep, while Paul has been distracting himself with his research. Neither of them are aware that Luke has in fact succeeded in rescuing Jessalyn, though at the cost of his prosthetic hand, which was lost during his lightsaber duel with the Dark Lord. The Jedi and the Major return to the ship late in the night, and the next morning, Amylynn, after settling the wounded Luke down in the crews' quarters, comes to check on Paul and Shenner... ---------- Amylynn walks in from the Entry Area of the ship. Amylynn has arrived. Amylynn peeks into the bay "Heya you guys ok in here?" Amylynn looks at you for a moment. Paul looks up idly, peering at you through glasses. On his lap is a large book and sitting next to him is a computer terminal. He waves at Amylynn. "Just fine," he replies, "and yourself?" Shenner, curled up in a tiny heap of pillow and blanket and a tuft of short red hair, makes an indistinct sleepy noise. "Mrmr?" Amylynn nods "Fine, just got done fixing up Luke. Heh go back to Sleep Shenner. Paul , any idea how long it will take to reach the fleet?" Shenner mumbles, "Hrmm? Luke?" The kid rolls over and blinks groggily. Paul's eyes open extremely wide and his figure goes stiff. "Fix up Luke? What do you mean "fix up Luke?" They're back? And Jessalyn?" He blinks and surges up, his book flying unheeded. "Why didn't anyone tell us?" He looks both upset and relieved. Amylynn looks to Paul and smiles "Jess took a stun blast in the leg and is recovering fine. Luke Lost a hand, cybernetic. I was albe to patch up most of it." Paul stands there looking stunned. "Wh-when did this happen?" He taps his comlink and it clicks on. His face is somewhat horrified. Shenner lifts a hand out of her blanket nest, and scrubs at her eyes, trying to clear them. "Whassis? Luke? Jess?" The kid starts trying to sit up. Amylynn holds up a calming hand "Durring the escape. He's resting fine and after the patch work i did he'll have a new one in no time." Amy looks to Shenner "Both are back kid, they're sleeping and are well." "Last night? And Jessalyn? Is she asleep as well?" Paul looks posed to dash off for the ladder in a second. Amylynn says, "Wait a second I'm not done patching them up ok? I'll call you two when i'm done." Fumbling herself into more or less sitting up, Shenner blinks several times before this news makes it all the way through a lingering veil of drowsiness. When it does, a grin slowly but steadily starts erupting across her face. "They're back," she mumbles, in wonder. "They're back?" Amylynn says, "yes Shenner, Now I gotta get back to Luke both of you kindly let me patch them ok?" Amylynn winks "I'll take care of them." Amylynn walks Starboard into the Entry Area of the ship. Amylynn has left. Paul looks at Amylynn and replies, "I'm sorry, I won't disturb her, but I just gotta see her ... to know that she really is alright ... I won't interfere, I promise!" he yelps as he dashes for the ladder and scrambles up it. Paul_Nighman walks Starboard into the Entry Area of the ship. Paul_Nighman has left. [Drowsy, but struggling hard to wake herself up, Shenner rouses and hastens after Paul, heading for the crews' quarters and anxious to ascertain that Luke and Jessalyn are alright.] You walk into the Crew's Quaters on the ship Crew's Quarters--Black Dragon These crew quarters are a place for the crew only. This is where they relax and sleep, as well as other various tasks that may be necessary. Contents: Paul_Nighman Amylynn Jessalyn Lelila's Bunk Obvious exits: Main Corridor Amylynn says, "Speak of the devil." Paul looks around. "She was sleeping when Amylynn came and told us you were here ... I thought she would be right behind me, but she was pretty beat." He turns back to Jessalyn and his cocks to one side as he regards her expression. "Are you sure you're okay?" Shenner, rubbing at her eyes sleepily, peeks in from the corridor as the door whooshes to announce her arrival. "Jess?" she calls, her voice still rather drowsy. Amylynn walks over to Luke and give Shenner a smile "She awake come on in kid." and attaches a remote bio-scanner on Lukes arm. Paul turns and smiles at Shenner's arrival. "So there you are," he says, wiping away all looks of concern so as not to upset the kid. Jessalyn's face brightens. "Shen!" Paul stands up and gestures to the chair, letting Shen get her time in with Jessalyn. Shenner hastens over, growing more alert of expression as she practically teleports to the chair. "You're back! You're okay?! I was so worried..." She doesn't look like she's about to collapse into the same heap of tears she turned into when Paul was found in the Palanhi med center -- but perhaps that's because the kid's just awakened from sleep. Shen's face _does_ start o light up, inexorably, though. Jessalyn sits up straighter where she's sitting on the bunk, and leans forward to pull Shenner closer to her for a hug. "Yes, I'm okay! It's so good to see you!" Paul smiles at Shenners relief and gives Jessalyn a quick grin over the kids head, as if to say "Isn't this great?" Jessalyn The composure of the young woman before you is somewhat tense, her cheeks even paler than usual, though she tries to soften the expression with a gentle smile. Her flaming dark red hair is even brighter than usual in contrast to her ashen cheeks, as if the color has been drained for her face and lips. Her eyes are pale green and the muscles around them flinch with worry. She is wearing a loose, black velvet tunic which scoops low beneath her startlingly white throat. The tunic is belted at her narrow waist and the full sleeves end just above her pale slender wrists. A blaster is holstered to one thigh, and your eyes are drawn to her best feature, upon which she wears a pair of tight, dark green pants tucked into knee-high black leather boots, both complementing the best pair of legs in ten parsecs. Shenner leans hard into the hug, grinning ear to ear. Amylynn gets her scannner and stands over Luke a while, she keeps a grim look hidden from the others and hurms. She takes a small device and locks it over Lukes hand. connecting it to a nutradrip she hooks it about three feet above Lukes sleeping form. A few more taps on her scanners pad and some equipment whirls to life and she sits down near Lukes bunk. Jessalyn hugs her young friend hard, and winks at Paul over shoulder. "Were you okay? Did you all make it off Palanhi all right?" At that comment Paul rolls his eyes. "Well it was something of a challenge, but we made it." He sports a wry smile. Shenner pulls back, still grinning a little with obvious relief, though her face turns somewhat plaintive as she ventures, "We're all okay except we couldn't find General Solo!" Jessalyn frowns slightly as she pulls back to look at Shenner. "What do you mean? Where did he go?" She turns a worried look on Paul. Paul nods. "Yeah, Leia was kinda losing it, and as far as I know we haven't found him yet." Shenner clasps Jessalyn's hands tightly as though to assure herself the woman isn't about to vanish, even as she offers, "I-I was the last one to see him, as near as I can tell..." Jessalyn squeezes Shenner's hands back, nodding somberly. "Damn... I hope he's all right. It would be nice to think these people can take care of themselves!" She rolls her eyes and sighs, her gaze inextricably falling onto Luke's sleeping form across the room. Amylynn looks back to Jess "Your stun sickness should be gone in a bit, anything else happen Jess?" Paul sighs. "Well, I have to admit, I've never met a band of people that are worse trouble magnets than this bunch," he teases lightly, but the nugget of truth in what he says is clear. "I dunno what we'll do now... I mean, look for General Solo or what, or go back to the fleet," Shenner babbles out then falls silent as the others speak. Jessalyn's gaze is diverted from Paul back to Amylynn. "Not that I know of, no..." Amylynn scans Jess over once with her bio-scanner and smiles "Nope, Neg problems.Physicly your ok." Paul breathes a sigh of relief that he didn't realize he was holding. "So Jessalyn is there anything I can get for you?" He seems to realize the lameness of this question. "Uh like something to read? A book or maybe a bite to eat?" Amylynn whispers under her breath "A proposal maybe?" Jessalyn nods vaguely in response to Amylynn, and then smiles warily at Paul. "I'm.. not hungry." Her eyes drop lower to contemplate her hands. Shenner pats Jessalyn's hands and says softly, "I'm real glad you and Luke are back." Paul looks at Amylynn, his face slightly flushing. He looks at Luke then and then back to Jessalyn and he delicately clears his throat, uncertain of Amylynn's implications. Amylynn smiles at Paul and winks. Jessalyn seems oblivious to Amylynn and Paul's little exchange, and she squeezes Shenner's hands again. "I'm glad too. He didn't have to come after me like that," she adds somberly. Paul's face gets a little brighter and he turns away from Amylynn, focusing on some barely visible spot on the wall. Shenner shrugs a bit. "Sure he did. He's Luke, ain't he?" That seems self-explanatory to Shenner, and she grins crookedly. "Look... is there anything any of us can do, or somethin'?" Jessalyn turns her head, peering at Paul as he clears his throat, and then she looks over at Amylynn. "What is it?" Shenner then looks up, blinking at the others. "Ah nothing," Paul replies. Paul allows himself to regain some of his lost composure and then casually walks torward Amylynn, looking at her in a bit of confusion. He softly whispers to her, "Uh, what did you mean by that?" Amylynn taps away on her scanner. Looking innocent. "We were just all worried about you, not much." Amylynn whispers back "When your not pointing blasters at people your a great big softy. Your being so sweet." Jessalyn shrugs slighty and turns her attention back to Shenner. "Yeah, I guess that's just what he does," she offers by way of response, though her tone is somewhat saddened by this conclusion. Paul flushes bright red and softly says, "Oh, uh, gee, thanks." Shenner murmurs to Jessalyn, "Well, and there's also that he was real worried about you, yah know?" She leans over and hugs the woman again, missing the whispers between Amylynn and Paul. Amylynn looks back to Jess "What became of Sabbath?" Jessalyn nods slightly, her breath catching in her throat as she returns Shenner's hug. Blinking back tears, she glances over at Amylynn. "His ship was destroyed," she says numbly. Three small robotic spiders crawl from Amylynn's medkit and make thier way across Lukes blanket. Amylynn nods to Jessalyn and taps away on her scanner even more. Shenner leans back from Jessalyn and listens gravely, now. Paul, giving Amylynn an uncertain glance, decides that Shenner is the safest person in the room and moves back torward her, standing beside her and leaning against the wall. He too is listening closely to Jessalyn. Jessalyn seems a bit uncomfortable, and lets out a soft sigh. "He.. threatened to destroy us all. He had a detonator... but Luke and I managed to get off the ship before it exploded." The robotic like spiders converge on Luke's hand and begins to make light sparks, The sound of metal tapping on metal is heard as they go to work. Amylynn nods to Jess. "It's over now. You'll both be ok for now. I won't let anything happen to ya now." Paul bites his tongue before he says something inappropriate about how noone can stop these people from digging up trouble. Amylynn says, "Hurm I said the word now one to many times....." Jessalyn nods wearily and leans back on the pillows again. "Thank you, Amylynn," she murmurs, closing her eyes, and making a pointed effort not to look at Paul or Luke. Paul frowns slightly and leans over to Jessalyn, touching her arm lightly. "Do you want me to go?" he asks gently, ".... or stay?" Amylynn taps two last buttons and the metal spiders return to her backpack making noticable clicking noises. Jessalyn bliks her eyes open wide, and she pats Paul's hand at her arm. "Stay!" she says softly but urgently. "Please, don't go." Her expression looks almost panicked as it flicks across the room. Shenner promises, "We'll stay, Jess... promise!" Amylynn watches the small droids and smiles she looks to Jess "I'll pull a all nighter and keep a eye on you two." Paul looks surprised at the vehemence of Jessalyn's request, then his expression softens and he sits back down again next to her. "I'll stay," he reasssures her. Jessalyn glances among all in the room, looking a bit relieved, but as her gaze lights upon Paul again, that frightened look flashes across her green eyes briefly. "You were right, Paul," she murmurs under her breath. Amylynn nods "We will all stay kiddo." Amylynn A young human woman stands before you, her wild red hair kept out her emerald green eyes by a black headband. She must be only be 4'11 and 100 pounds. She is wearing a modified suit that looks like scout trooper armor but small servos are in the joints. The plates are a dull grey and glare proff. The only other feature on the armor is a universal red cross indicating medical personel. A large medkit is strapped to her back. And on a grey utilitiy belt is a a standard stromtrooper blaster rifle and a field surgery kit. Under the armor is the black tempature controlled body gloves most imperial stormtroopers wear.On closer inspection Her armor plates on her back are carboned scorred right through in three blast areas and her right arm has a half melted plate. Traces of bandaging and patch worked repair can be seen. Carrying: Amylynn's Comlink(#11893C) At first when Paul hears Jessalyn's words he stares at her, not comprehending. The all of the sudden comprehension dawns and blossoms on his face, his eyes widening only slightly. "I see," he replies obscurely. Shenner looks between Jess and Paul, and puts in hopefully, "Jess... I could play for you, if you want...?" Jessalyn's eyes glisten for a moment as she watches Paul's expression, but she diverts her attention to Shenner, and smiles. "Oh, Shen. That would be lovely." Paul nods and turns to Shenner. "Yeah," bring the guitar and the flute, huh?" he asks. The kid beams, and hops to her feet. "I'll keep it down... 'cause Luke's sleepin'... but I'll be right back! Both flutes, Paul!" With that, Shenner scurries out... Paul smiles at Shen's enthusiasm. "I really like that kid," he adds idly, but his expression shows deeper feelings than that. Amylynn smiles and sits down, she pulls out a small remote comterminal and accesses it. Amylynn says, "Excuse me gotta send a message." Amylynn taps on her comterm as quickly as she does on her bio-scanner her smile turns even softer as she looks at the screen. The faint sounds of a message comes from the terminal, in the Corellian language. Paul tilts a head back, hearing the familiar Corellian, but is too far to make out what is being said. Amylynn smiles and nods. She also anwsers in Corellian. She silently then turns off the terminal. Amylynn puts her gear up and looks to the others. In silence. Paul is completely focused on Jessalyn and doesn't notice Amylynn Jessalyn watches Paul's expression curiously, then a smile quivers at the corners of her mouth. "Hmmm..." Paul leans forward torward Jessa again, whispering, "I was right, huh? How did this come to light?" Jessalyn sighs wearily, her cheeks flushing as she leans closer to Paul and whispers to him. "He -- he told me.." The door whooshes open again, and Shenner, laden with her guitar slung off one shoulder and both her flute bags off the other, shuffles in, smiling sheepishly. "Heavy," he replies in all seriousness. "So, where does that leave you now? I guess back where you were before - with decisions to make and then to live with, eh?" His expression is sympathetic and supportive. "Just remember, I've got these shoulders here for you to borrow at a moments notice." Shenner glances at the softly talking adults, and settles down quietly on one of the far bunks, parking her guitar in her lap. Her cropped head bent, Shenner starts working on tuning the instrument, meticulously. Amylynn sits down and watchs the group and smiles happily. Paul notes Shenner's return, but doesn't react, waiting for Jessalyn first. Jessalyn rubs the back of her hand over eyes, then shrugs. "I don't know, Paul. I don't think it really matters." Paul stares into Jessa's eyes, his narrowing slightly. "Doesn't matter? How can it not matter?" he whispers back. Jessalyn shifts uncomfortably, her fingers tightening around the blanket wrapped around her waist. "It doesn't matter for the exact same reasons you told me, Paul," she says hoarsely. Frowning at Jessalyn's words, Paul leans closer to her. "I never said that it didn't matter ... did I?" he suddenly ponders, trying to remember all of the many things that he has said to Jessalyn. His eyes turn back to her. "Well it does matter, it confirms it all ... right?" Shenner sits quietly on the bunk she's chosen, strumming at her guitar, and after a bit she segues into a flowing, soft kind of melody. Jessalyn licks her dry lips, shaking her head slowly. "I know that's not what you meant, Paul. But it's the truth." Her eyes seem hollow and tired as she gazes at Paul, then slowly drifts to contemplate Shenner. "Because nothing will ever come of it. Because he was right, too." She says this last part more to herself, and her eyes slowly close. Paul's soft sigh ruffles Jessalyn's hair slightly. "I don't which is worse, me being the optimistic romantic or you the pessimistic one." He smiles at her, a little sadly and a little hopefully. "Don't you get it? If he loves you then there is always hope, there's always a chance. Luke is only right in a practical sense, and when has love -ever- been practical?" The girl with the guitar continues to play, quietly... occasionally sliding a look over to the man and woman across the room as they quietly converse. Shenner's green gaze rests on Paul, just for a moment, at the end of his words. Jessalyn flinches, and she struggles to hide the resentment in her expression as Paul forces her to talk about things she doesn't even want to think about. Sliding further under the blankets, she mumbles softly, "Love isn't practical. I've been there. I've made the worst decisions of my life when I was blinded by love." Her brows furrow together in mingled confusion and worry. "And I don't want him to ever grow to regret knowing me, because I drew him away from what was really important to him. I'm not going to let it happen, Paul. I'm not!" His expression growing more firm Paul stares Jessalyn in the eyes until she meets his gaze. "If you were blind, you wouldn't be telling me all this. How can you draw him away from what is important to him? How could you even make that happen, let alone let it happen? Luke chooses his own destiny, not you." Jessalyn snaps back angrily, "Paul, I'm not even talking about Luke, okay? I mean, I'm not blinded now. And I don't want to be. And I don't want him to be! You're right, Luke chooses his own destiny --" She sits up with an effort, eyes flashing and cheeks red as she shakes a finger at him -- "And the one he's chosen does not include me!" Shenner glances over at the two adults again, eyes growing somewhat liquid, and the kid looks decidedly unsure as to whether she ought to be listening to this. But she continues to play, very softly, the guitar chords sliding around the room. Paul sits back hard, the chair rocking with his move. He sits there for a moment, eyeing Jessalyn and considering his options. He finally stands, looking down at her sympathetically, but he doesn't offer any more advice. "I guess I should let you get some rest now." Jessalyn stares stubbornly at the ceiling, eyes glistening with tears. Her breathing is somewhat erratic as she folds her arms tightly over her chest. "Fine." Paul pauses there, leaning against the upper bunk. He glances at the door and then at Jessalyn. He straightens as if to leave, but in a voice, soft and giving he says, "Jessa ...." He only speaks her name, but in that name is an offer if she would only accept it. Jessalyn turns on her side, now facing the wall, and curls up into a tighter ball. She makes a sound as though she might try to speak, but only a small, hurt sob manages to issue from her throat. Paul stares down at her, torn between giving her the time and space to cry and taking her into his arms. He only struggles for a few seconds with this decision before he sits down on the bed next to her and gently draws her into his arms, cradling her gently and rocking her. Shenner looks up, then, from where she sits with her guitar. The kid's gaze goes to Paul, and she smiles a little, as she keeps playing. Jessalyn's slender frame trembles as Paul holds her, and she doesn't look up at him. Her face is hidden against his shoulder, and her hands ball up into fists to rest against his chest as she sobs. Paul continues to rock her from side to side, his hand stroking her hair and back in slow soothing strokes. "Shhh-hhh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push. I'm sorry." he croons at her softly. He holds her as if she were a fragile piece of sculpture, lovingly and firmly, but with great care. Shenner considers, then rises, stilling the guitar, and padding with it over to where Jessa and Paul are. She sits down on Jessalyn's other side, and tentatively pats one of her shoulders. Jessalyn takes a steadying breath, but still doesn't look up. Her voice is weak and punctuated by quiet sobs when she tries to speak. "It's not your fault. I'm sorry." Shenner clasps Jess's shoulder from where she sits behind her. A moment passes where Paul does nothing but keep rocking her. "No, it's not my fault, but I was pushing you, and you've obviously already made your decision, so who am I to try and sway you?" He continues to stroke Jessalyn's hair, letting his hand slide over the silken tresses. Jessalyn frowns to herself, pulling back and looking at Paul with a perplexed expression. "Decision? Paul, can't you see that it's not my decision to make?" She turns her pleading gaze to Shenner, looking, perhaps, for support. Paul lets Jessalyn pull away from his grasp, his eyes somber. "You and Luke each get to make a decision in this matter - it's not a question of one or the other. According to you, Luke has made his decision ... and you have as well." He looks away for a moment and then back again, "But I promised I wouldn't hassle you with this any more." Shenner says shyly, "It ain't like... I, uh, know much about this kind of thing, Jess..." Her expression radiates a desire to help, despite her uncertain words. Jessalyn sighs quietly, and gives Shenner a reassuring smile. When she looks back at Paul, her expression is more resigned, although still tormented. "It's not my decision to make," she says quietly. "He's made up his mind, and I can't change that. I can't make him into something that he doesn't want to be." Her voice cracks slightly at the end of her words, and she looks down helplessly. "I would argue that point with you Jessalyn if you'd like me to," Paul sighs, "but I get the impression that you really don't want to hear it" Jessalyn's smile is soft and bittersweet. "Paul, why are having this argument with me? I'm not the one who needs persuading." She squeezes his arms, then her gaze wanders unbearably over to where Luke is sleeping, and she swallows visibly. Paul's eyes stray from Jessalyn to Luke and they rest there a moment. In a strange sort of distant voice he replies, "Yeah, I see your point." He rubs your arms then, coming back to himself and you. "But I'll still argue you on your choice any day of the week," he teases her lightly. Shenner puts in with a husky chuckle, "Give in now. Shouldn't argue with a brain like Paul." Paul chuckles at Shenner's comment and grins at her fiendishly. "Oh, like you never argue with my brain?" Jessalyn shakes her head, chuckling, and glances at Shenner. "I'm just as stubborn as Paul, even if I'm not as bright." "Just because you're bright, pal, doesn't mean you're right," Shenner defends herself archly. "Just that you argue better." Shenner grins crookedly. Paul shakes his head at Jessalyn. "There you go again, giving yourself short shrift!" He waggles an admonishing finger at her. "And you," he adds, moving his finger at Shenner, "you are 100% right, and no slouch yourself!" He waggles his eyebrows at Shen. As Paul's scolding diverts to her, Shenner can be seen, oddly, to brighten a bit. She parries, "Yeah, well, name me somethin' you're right about and I ain't!" Jessalyn draws her knees up to her chest, grateful for the diversion, and smiles slightly as she listens to the banter. "Well, for one thing, you thought I was a total schmuck, and now I've convinced you that I'm a decent kinda guy." He pauses for a moment and a mock look of horror comes across his face. "Crap! I just blew my cover!" Jessalyn shakes her head slightly and rests her chin on her knees, wrapping her arms around her legs. Shenner can be heard to laugh, a rare sound for her, clear and full. "You gotta work harder if you wanna convince people you're Corellian!" Paul frowns and then sticks out his chin and puffs himself up. He grabs Shen roughly, draggin her into his arms. "C'mere baby, give me some sugar!" he growls at her seductively. Jessalyn blinks, then laughs out right, falling face first into a pillow. Paul looks up at Jessa and gives her a lascivious grin. "Hold on a sec, I'll be with you in a moment," he purrs at her. Jessalyn's eyes go wide, and then she laughs again, tossing a pillow at Paul. The redheaded kid issues a yelp as she's tugged across the bunk. She catches herself by wrapping her arms around his neck... and all at once she pauses there. Paul ducks and lets the pillow pass over him. "Oh, so you like it rough huh? Goodie!" Paul looks down into Shen's face and grins, having so much fun that he doesn't notice her gripping him tight. "Hold on, gotta maintain my image here, I'll deal with you in a second," and with that he wraps one arm around Shen and thwacks Jessalyn with another pillow. Shenner coughs, then demands gruffly, "What makes you think I _got_ any sugar, pal?" There's something of a smile across her mouth, though, and that abruptly widens into a huge grin as pillows start flying. "Hey!" Jess holds up her arms to deflect the thrown pillow. "Watch it, Corellian! I can play that game too!" Paul looks down at Shenners lips and licks his suggestively. "Shall we put that claim to the test?" he asks slyly. He then glances up at Jessalyn and grins, "That's what I was counting on Red!" Jessalyn smirks and picks up a pillow, bashing it against the back of Paul's head. "This is not the time for you to live out your fantasies, hotshot," she muses, giving him another good thwap. Shenner decides three can play at this game, but she also decides to change the rules. Accordingly, after a lingering glance at Paul's own mouth, she impulsively starts tickling his sides. Paul lets out a moan that sounds like pure ecstasy. "Ah, rolling around in bed with two red heads and lots of pillows! This must be heaven!" He suddenly jerks back as Shenner's hands reach his sides. "Hey, no fair! Ambush! Ambush!" he yelps. Jessalyn grins and gives Shenner a conspiratorial wink, as she moves up to Paul from behind and attacks his ribs from that angle as well. Paul squirms between the two of you, trying to avoid being tickled and failing miserably. "Alright you two, no more Mr. Nice guy and his hands dive for Shen's stomach, tickling her without mercy. Shenner starts to squeal, and winds up choking back the sound, as she tries to keep it down lest the resting Luke be disturbed. Her breath starts coming out of her in sharp pants, though, as she quivers with laughter and tries to attack Paul at the same time. Jessalyn grumbles and digs her fingers deeper into Paul's ribs, trying to distract him from his attack on the younger girl. Paul grabs Shen's small approaching hands in one his large ones and pulls them over her head. "Now you're in for it," he growls, "no mercy ..." and he reaches for her again with his free hand, only to jerk at Jessalyn's attempts. "Hold on now, one at a time one at at time, you'll each be serviced just as soon as I can get around to it." He twists his torso, trying to avoid Jessa's hands as he returns to tickling Shenner. Shenner darned near falls off the bunk, trying to squirm free of Paul even as she giggles hysterically. She starts flailing her feet at Paul, since her hands are grabbed! Jessalyn hisses between her teeth, "You two are going to wake Luke!" But she reaches out to grab Paul around the torso and yanks back, trying to pull him away from Shen. Paul quickly lets go of Shenner's hands and grabs her legs, allowing her to slip off the edge of the bed, but he carefully lets her down to the floor before whirling around onto Jessalyn. "Okay, next!" he whispers cheerfully. Shenner promptly scrambles out of the way, collapsing on the far bunk she'd been playing her guitar on before, and gasping for air. Her face is a bit flushed, her eyes bright. Jessalyn yelps, eyes wide, and scrambles backwards on the bed. Paul leans over her, trapping her against the bed with his body, "Now I gotcha right where I want ya," he whispers seductively. Jessalyn's cheeks turn every color of red imaginable as she's pinned beneath Paul. "Is that so?" she manages to say, but the words aren't quite as stern as she tries to make them. He hovers there for a moment, looking threatening and then gives her a kiss on the nose. "Damn I missed ... hold still a sec, willya?" Shenner promptly scrambles back to Paul and *whumps* into his back, tickling him vigorously. Paul lets out an inelegant whuff of air and braces his arms on each side of Jessalyn so as not to crush her. He pushes off abruptly and swings around, grabbing Shen tight and crushing her to his chest. "Back for more already? I don't know if I have the stamina," he growls. Jessalyn pauses before replying to Paul, looking indignant, but then she laughs as Shenner pounds into him, and pushes herself back against the wall as she's released. Shenner gasps, "Don't turn your back *pant* on a redhead, pal!" "Never underestimate a Corellian," he rasps back. Shenner challengingly meets Paul's gaze, her own alight, her grin broad. "Oh yeah?!" she shoots back, not necessarily cleverly, but with obvious enthusiasm. Paul stands up taller and with a great heave picks Shen up and holds her up high, staring her up in the face. "Yeah!" he retorts unimaginatively back. The redheaded girl beams down at Paul as if he is in that instant the most entertaining thing she's ever seen. Her entire expression glows with giddy amusement. Jessalyn shakes her head, watching the exchanged with raised brows as she sinks back into the pillows tiredly. "Come on you two. At least wait till you're alone!" Giving the girl the evil eye, Paul drawls, "So, ya had enough? You give up, do I gotta hold you to the ceiling all day? Shenner looks, too, in that instant, marvellously happy. She fires back, "I'd like to see you try it...!" But as Jessalyn speaks Shen's gaze flicks to her, and back to Paul; in _that_ instant, the kid suddenly blushes even as she continues to grin ear to ear. Paul looks at Jessalyn over his shoulder and flushes slightly, plopping Shen down unceremoniously. Paul gives Shen a sheepish grin. "You're too heavy," he teases gruffly. "Bantha dung," Shenner retorts, but playfully. Then, still grinning, she tells Jess, "I'm gonna get in the refresher, you make sure this sneak of a Corellian doesn't pull nothin', okay?" Jessalyn raises her brows, then nods slowly. "Oh, I'll keep an eye on him, Shen." Paul leans against the wall with a grin. "I already peeked last night," he tosses off idly, but his eyes are obviously teasing. Shenner keeps blushing a bit, but also keeps grinning, as she darts out of the room. [End log.]